We believe in PRAYER!

Here are some of the Scriptural promises concerning prayer:

Christ Prays for US!  My little children, I am writing this to you to keep you from sinning.  If anyone sins, we have One to plead for us with the Father—Jesus Christ, who is righteous.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.  1 John 2:1-2, NET

 But you, dear friends, while you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love, as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you everlasting life.  Jude 20-21, NET

 For you did not receive the spirit of slaves to make you feel afraid again, but you received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we cry out, “Abba, Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, then heirs, God’s heirs, and joint heirs with Christ since we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory. . . .

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads for us with sighs for which we cannot find the words.  But He who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind, for He is pleading for believers in God’s own way.  Romans 8:15-17; 26-27, NET

 “I tell you the absolute truth, if you ask the Father for anything in My Name, He will give it to you.  So far you have not asked for anything in My Name.  Ask and you will receive so that your joy might be complete.”  John 16:23b-24, NET

 Your prayer offered in faith will save the sick person.  James 5:15a, NET

 And when He had taken the scroll,

the four living creatures and the 24 elders bowed down before the Lamb.       

(Each held a harp and golden bowls full of incense

  which are the prayers of the believers.”  Revelation 5:8

For they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. . . . says the Lord.  Isaiah 65:23b-24

Prayer and Breakfast with Pastor

At least once a month (usually more often) Pastor Heselton gets together with fellow believers to pray for:

Lord of Life Lutheran Prayer Chain

In additon to our Prayers in the Divine Service on Sundays, we practice prayer throughout the week.  We publish a weekly list of Prayer Requests in our LifeLine News Letter and place special Prayer Requests on our email and telephone Prayer Chain.

If you would like us to pray for YOU, give us a telephone call and leave a message on our Prayer Line or email us.  We will pray in the Divine Service, place you on our Prayer List and put your petition on our prayer chain.     

Martin Luther on Prayer

You should come to God by faith, as a little chicken hastens under the hens wings, and say: I would not be so bold as to speak this prayer were it not done in the name of Christ.  In His name I bow my knees though I am not worthy to be heard by God.  Thus we pray that our prayer may be offered in faith and flow from faith.

Christ’s words, “in My name,” are the prime factor and the foundation on which prayer is to stand and rest.  Thence it derives the goodness and worthiness that please God, and the strength and power that it must be heard.  Moreover this fact frees us from all grievous temptation and worthless worry (which hinder us most in prayer and make us timid) concerning our own worthiness, so that we should not inquire or worry about this at all but, looking aside from both worthiness and unworthiness, should base our prayer on Him and ask in His name.

Praying is the work of faith alone and something no one but a Christian can do.  For Christians do not base their prayer on themselves but on the name of the Son of God, in whose name they have been baptized; and they are certain that praying in this way is pleasing to God because He has told us to pray in the name of Christ and has promised to hear us. 

But to pray, as the Second Commandment teaches, is to call on God in every need.  This He requires of us.  It is not a matter to be left to our choice; but we should and must pray if we want to be Christians, just as much as we should and must obey father, mother, and civil authorities.  For by invocation and prayer the name of God is honoured and profitably employed.

I have often taken up and discussed the component parts and the characteristics which every real prayer has to possess, . . .  First, the urging of God’s commandment who has strictly required us to pray.  Second, His promise, in which He declares that He will hear us.  Third, an examination of our own need and misery, which burden lies so heavily on our shoulders that we have to carry it to God immediately and pour it out before Him, in accordance with his order and commandment.  Fourth, true faith, based upon this Word and promise of God, praying with the certainty and confidence that He will hear us and help us.  And all these things in the name of Christ, through whom our prayer is acceptable to the Father and for whose sake He gives us every grace and every good.

Excerpts from What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian complied by Ewald M. Plass, copyright © 1959 CPH